Fire life-saving device



Dec; 17,1929.

C. ROMSON FIRE LIFE SAVING DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1928 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNHTE STATES man? CARL ROMSON, OF MORA, SWEDEN FIRE LIFE-SAVING DEVICE Application filed January 6, 1928, Serial No. 244,953, and in Sweden January 19, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in fire escapes, and especially those embodying an endless cable having means for lowering persons or objects from a building.

An object of the invention is to provide a friction block having a tortuous channel in which there is disposed a flexible cable having means for supporting and conveying a person to the earth, by gravity.

A further object is the provision of a novel means of supporting the endless cable within the friction block so that the cable will have free and unobstructed movement through its major portion.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a friction block formed in a single casting and having means permitting ready insertion of a cable in a tortouous channel formed within the block. 20 Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a View at right angles to Figure 1, with part of the cable element broken away.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a reeve-block 1, having an eye 1 adapted to be engaged by a supporting means, such as the hook 3. The block 1 has a tortuous passage 3 within which there is threaded the flexible cable 2.

It should be noted that the block 1 is of tapering formation, the larger end or base portion being provided with offset cable guides 4. By this construction, it will be apparent that each reach of the cable 2 is positively retained in their respective lines of travel, and the possibility of entanglement of the cables is obviated.

Reference is made to Figure 2 of the drawing, wherein it will be seen that the block 1 is cut away as at 5 to permit ready threading of the cable within the tortuous passage 3.

In threading the cable through the tortuous channel, the cable may be entered in either of the cable guides i and forced inwardly until the cable has cleared the first turn of the passage. Such movement will bring the cable to the opening 5 where it may be grasped by an operator. The cable is next threaded around the final turn of the passage 3 to emerge through the opposite guide l. The openings 5 also serve to permit the passage of air to the interior of the block to efi'ect a cooling of the parts.

The cable 2 is provided with supporting belts 4:, these belts in the present instance, comprising two strap elements 7 secured to the cable 2. as at 8 while the opposite ends are folded and secured in their folded relation, as at 6. A ring 5 is slidably arranged upon the strap elements 7, for a purpose to be explained.

In the use of my device, the reeve-block 1 is supported in a convenient position to a window frame or similar opening of a building, with one of the belt elements in its uppermost position. A person to be lowered to the ground, positions the belt elements 7 beneath his arms, and slides the ring 5 downwardly to assure retention of the belts. He may now step from the window, allowing his weight to exert a downward pull upon that reach of the cable carrying the belt to which he has attached himself. The downward speed will be gradual, due to the passage of the cable 2 about the tortuous reeve-way 3 but this movement may be still further lessened, by grasping the upwardly travelling reach of the cable. It will also be apparent that the speed of descentmc y be regulated by a person upon the ground by simply retarding movement of the upwardly travelling reach of the cable.

I claim:

A reeve-block having a supporting means, said block being of tapered formation and having openings in the base thereof, individual passage portions connecting with each of said openings and extending in a plane parallel to said tapered portion, and a tortuous pas sage portion connecting each of said first named passage portions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CARL ROMSON. 

